Manchester

Aqua
Albion Wharf
City Centre
Unfortunately this bar has now closed.
Indie and Underground bar

Odder
14 Oxford Road
Oxford Road
Much loved bar on Oxford Road that offers quality beers in an eclectic environement. Don't be put off by the tiny bar downstairs, as the main action is up the wooden stairs at the back and in to an aladdins cave of clocks and vases. Regular events offer music and DJs, whilst the recently updated menu offers delicious, low priced grub.
Indie and Underground bar

Revolution Deansgate Locks
Deansgate Locks
Deansgate
Revolution Deansgate Locks was, and in some cases still is, the jewel in the crown for the Revolution chain of vodka bars. Whilst the company is based in Ashton Under Lyme, Manchester has always been their real home (with no less than three locations here) and you can tell that this is their pride and joy. Thus the venue (situated in a disused railway archway) is a very swish affair, with two floors, a VIP mezzanine and canal side seating. A number of important midweek nights are hosted at Revolution, including the popular Red on alternate Tuesday's, and some special one-off Saturday events. The downstairs club is well sized, but bar service is painfully slow at busy times ? perhaps a good reason to escape upstairs to the VIP suite where the bar staff:customer ratio is a lot better. The décor is above average as well, and drinks prices are reasonable. There are always drinks offers, and you can get pitchers of vodka cocktails as well as the infamous Revolution flavoured Vodkas. Overall Revolution is a good looking venue, and despite being a bit too busy on Weekends its success is down to being a great place to relax or ?have it large?.
Indie and Underground bar

The Corner
254 Wilmslow Road
Fallowfield
A new venture from the Trof collective, The Corner moves away from the eclectic but refined taste of its sisters and brothers (i.e. Trof and The Deaf Institute) and moves more into what we can only describe as squat-chic. 'Underground' and 'relaxed' are probably kinder words to use, but there you go. It's also on a corner, unsuprisingly, and aims to bring some of the best underground DJs and music to Fallowfield.
Indie and Underground bar

Bar Est
7-11 Lower Mosley Street
Deansgate
Situated underneath the Premier Travel Inn on Mosley street this little bar-cum-casual-restaurant isn't necessarily bad, it's just not very exciting. If you're after a quietish drink then this will be able to satisfy your needs. If, however, you crave social interaction with Manchester's high fliers then you'll be disappointed! Drinks prices are at the upper end of average, and it's really just a place to grab a pint if you're staying at the hotel above.
Indie and Underground bar

Lamarrs
57 Hilton Street
Northern Quarter
Lammars has a bit of a reputation for being a ‘hidden gem’, tucked away in the Piccadilly wasteland that isn’t quite the Northern Quarter but isn’t quite bang in the city centre. In reality, it’s not really that tucked away but is nicely away from the Northern Quarter ‘scene’ to not feel like it’s being sucked into the uber-trendy mob, but also close enough to be a reasonable option on your way into or out of town, via the train station. It is, of course, a decent option for a night out in itself. Inside has the feel more of a luxurious living room than a bar, with sofas, loungers and quirky furniture giving a a relaxed air to the place. A bejewelled piano sits in one corner.
Indie and Underground bar

Night and Day
26 Oldham Street
Northern Quarter
The Night and Day Cafe is another Northern Quarter establishment that provides live music in the evenings, and drinks'n'food during the day. The venue plays host to smaller bands and events.
Indie and Underground bar

Odd Bar
30-32 Thomas Street
Northern Quarter
***Updated May 2009*** The original in the Odd chain, Odd has firmly established itself as the front runner in alternative, quirky cool. With third sibling Oddest set for a July 2009 launch in Chorlton, the Odd chain seems to be spitting in the face of the recession and proving that good service, a relaxed vibe and comfortable surroundings are the essential ingredients for attracting punters. ____________________________________________ Odd is a relatively new bar within the Northern Quarter, but it's already found its feet and is as busy as pie on a Friday or Saturday night. There's the usual staple of strange beers and equally uncommon spirits, with decor that is - well - odd. Odd bar's owner has lovingly decorated the place with trinkets from around the world, including Moroccan, Indian and Thai furniture. Situated opposite the supremely busy Bluu, Odd bar's expansive interior is hidden well by the narrow frontage and dim lighting, and there's a basement space that's oft used for DJs, exhibitions and movie presentations. Well worth of a visit, arrive early to grab yourself a seat or forever be stood by the door.
Indie and Underground bar

Revolution Fallowfield
311-313 Wilmslow Road
Fallowfield
Some say that Fallowfield nightlife revolves around Revolution - those people are liars, but the vodka bar does have a huge impact on going out and provided some much needed class and sophistication before other venues caught on to the trend. Situated on the ever-busy Wilmslow Road this is standard Revolution fare, with cheap vodkas, wine, food and a bar big enough for a few hundred. The trick, for this venue at least, is to put on some great independent events on during the week - so far this has worked incredibly well, and the introduction of 'deejays' hasn?t encroached too much on those that just want a quiet drink. During quieter times it's a great place to hang out, unwind and eat some food. The menus are decent enough and the quality is good.
Indie and Underground bar

Cast
49 - 51 Thomas Street
Northern Quarter

Indie and Underground bar

Fat Cat Cafe
Deansgate Locks
Deansgate

Indie and Underground bar

Lounge 10
10 Tib Lane
Northern Quarter
Lounge 10 admits it's decor is influenced by the Moulin Rouge, and Parisian nightlife in general, which is never going to be a bad thing. Inside the food has received rave reviews and Wayne Rooney is a big fan of the place - no doubt hiring out the Boudoir private dining room and the butler service that comes with it. Magicians, dancers and music combine to make your eating/drinking memorable. Well worth a visit!
Indie and Underground bar

Socio Rehab
100 - 102 High Street
Northern Quarter
Small but perfectly formed, a strange little cocktail bar that's hidden away in the Northern Quarter. Socio Rehab attracts a pretty cool crowd, and they come - in part - for the drinks, which are lovingly prepared with an exotic collection of spirits. Musically this place is as off the wall as the decor, which sadly has been toned down (at least the porn has been removed from the toilets).
Indie and Underground bar

AXM Bar
10 Canal Street
Gay Village

Indie and Underground bar

Lime
2 Booth St.
City Centre
Lime, hidden away down the side of the Town Hall, is a funny little venue. Upstairs there's an L shaped bar area with slick design and a 180degree view with a curved glass window. Off to one side is a private dining room that doubles as a cocktail room, and downstairs is an oddly shaped club and some outstanding looking toilets. A favourite amongst the city workers - it's located close to the old Financial district - Lime has never really set the world on fire, but if you're looking for a drink and passing Booth Street then you do a lot worse than this.
Indie and Underground bar

Simple
20-21 Smithfield Buildings, Tib Street
Northern Quarter
A popular bar located in the Northern Quarter, opposite the NCP and just across the road from club North. During the day it serves decent meals and cocktails, all well priced, whilst at night it has a regular rotation of djs and events that tend to steer away from the mainstream. Whilst it's taken a bit of a bettering with the openings down the road (Bluu/Odd/Et al) as a pre-club or quiet-drink it's still a food visit. Simple also operates a second location in the City Centre just down the road from Grinch
Indie and Underground bar

Tiger Tiger
The Printworks
Printworks

Indie and Underground bar

Zinc
The Triangle
Triangle
Zinc is located in the Triangle, an up-market shopping centre located next to Victoria station, although the main entrance to the bar is in the newly built Millennium square. As you would expect from a Conran restaurant/bar this is a nice looking gaffe, with a nod to the 80s love of steel, glass and cocktails. Surprisingly small - Mr Conran probably wanted to play it safe with Zinc, who knows what those northerners are like - with a 40 seat restaurant and a bar that could squeeze in around twenty people before it got too stuffy. Needless to say the drinks and service are top notch - the prices reflect this - and when they shoehorn a DJ into the tiny space in the corner it takes the vibe up a notch. Well worth a visit, and Zinc
Indie and Underground bar

Fuel
448 Wilmslow Road
Withington

Indie and Underground bar

Lakota
Deansgate Locks
Deansgate
***Updated December 2009*** Lakota seems to have stood up to its first few months of scrutiny and emerged with reputation intact amongst those looking for a few cheap drinks amongst relatively unpretentious surroundings. On the occasions when we have to pop in for a pint or two Lakota has always been a relative oasis on the locks – spacious feel, friendly staff and, of course, cheap after work drinks. Let’s hope it continues into 2010 ____________________________________ The latest newcomer to the notorious Deansgate Locks, Lakota looks like it’ll slot right in with its neighbours. Food, drinks, cocktails and music are the order of the day and there’s some reasonable looking offers available – how about two meals for £5? Or a pint of lager/glass of white wine for £1.99 between 5-8pm? It might be near indistinguishable from the plethora of other identikit bars on the Locks and out in the city, but those prices sound good to us. And at least you’ll know the decor is fresh.
Indie and Underground bar

Pi
99 Manchester Road
Chorlton
A new drinking den for Chorlton, in the home of the former Idaho bar.
Indie and Underground bar

Proof
30A Manchester Road
Chorlton
A new bar on the site of the Rizkee Thai Restaurant, opposite Chorlton Precinct. They've assembled a crack team of Mancunian DJs to provide lush grooves and eclectic deepness to the Chorlton Masses.
Indie and Underground bar

Pure Space
11 New Wakefield Street
Oxford Road
The lively Pure Space Cafe Bar has existed in it's just-off-Oxford-Road location for a good few years now. The bar-cum-restaurant exists over two floors - the main bar area, complete with comfy booths, whilst an upper floor houses a conservatory with mini-bar and kitchen. To add another string to it's bow, Pure Space also has a club underneath (Sub Space).
Indie and Underground bar

Sofa
236 Wilmslow Road
Fallowfield
Situated on the busy Wilmslow Road, opposite the student halls, Sofa has undergone a number of refits recently, but at the core it remains the same. A laid back, well priced bar that often features DJs and provides pre-parties for other clubs in the centre of Manchester. Sofa has been around for as long as we care to remember, and it's still a good enough place to hang out in Fallowfield. With the recently refurbished Glass, and the ever popular Revolution, the competition is tough and Sofa but the bar's popularity is down to the fact that it's a bit rough around the edges.
Indie and Underground bar

Cord
Dorsey Street
Northern Quarter
Bars in Manchester seem to be getting smaller and smaller, and Cord a fine example of the tardis-like design methodologies that bar owners now adhere to. Upstairs you'll find seating for approximately fifty - at a push, and assuming that everyone is sat on someone else's knee. Downstairs is a bit more roomier (dare we call this the club room?) and here you'll find music, dancing and a bit of movement. Situated in the ever-trendy Northern Quarter, Cord has been kicking around since 2001 (when it won City Life bar of the year) and it's more and more popular, despite its size. ***Update: December 2008*** We popped in on a little jolly in the area the other night and are pleased to report Cord seems to be as relaxed and popular as ever. One of our party, a Cord virgin, was sceptical before we entered, due to its ?trendy bar in the Northern Quarter? tag ? she was expecting extortionate cocktails and weird, expensive beers in bottles. ?Pleasantly surprised? could be one way of putting her reaction as she discovered the averagely priced draft and slightly rough around the edges - in a good way ? ambience. Granted, the downstairs feels a bit like a public toilet/tube station, due to its abundance of white tiles, but that adds to its dark, slightly seedy atmosphere which, again, is a good thing. Definitely worth a look for a pint if you?re getting increasingly sick of cocktails and bottled beers in some of the Northern Quarter?s other watering holes.
Indie and Underground bar

Dimitris
Campfield Market
Castlefield
A place that truly comes alive in the summer, Dimitris is located in the Campfield Market building at the junction of Deansgate and Liverpool Road (Close to Deansgate Locks). It's more of an eating establishment than an actual bar, but its still worthy of a mention here due to the outdoor-indoor eating at the back. Campfield is one of those strange twisted elderly buildings that probably played host to hangings or witch burning trials (or possibly a market) but has ended up being a restaurant. Character drips from every rusting bolt, and there's a covered walkway at the rear that acts as a dining room. Probably the closest thing you can get to a Mediterranean eating experience in Manchester.
Indie and Underground bar